HOMEfires is the Official Policy newsletter of the HOME Program. Each HOMEfires answers a specific policy question.
HOMEfires Vol. 16, No. 1: Granting HOME Funds Loaned to Owners
May a Participating Jurisdiction (PJ) grant or provide HOME funds for the acquisition, development, or rehabilitation of affordable rental housing to an entity that will then loan the HOME funds to the owner (i.e., Limited Partnership (LP) or Limited Liability Company (LLC)) of the affordable rental housing?
Date Published: September 2021
HOMEfires Vol. 15, No. 1: Appraisal-based Resale Formulas
Are Participating Purisdictions (PJs) allowed to use an appraisal-based resale method to meet the HOME program requirements at §92.254(a)(5)(i)?
Date Published: January 2020
HOMEfires Vol. 14, No. 2: Guidance on Establishing a HOME Monitoring Fee
How can a PJ determine the amount of its fee for ongoing monitoring of HOME-assisted rental projects?
Date Published: April 2018
HOMEfires Vol. 14, No. 1: Guidance on PJ Affirmative Marketing Responsibilities
This guidance supersedes HOMEfires Vol. 7, No. 1.
What are Participating Jurisdictions' (PJs) responsibilities for developing, disseminating, and implementing affirmative marketing procedures?
Date Published: February 2018
This guidance was originally published in May 2016 and revised in August 2016.
When does the utility allowance (UA) requirement established in the 2013 HOME Final Rule (HOME Rule) become effective, and what methods may a participating jurisdiction (PJ) use to establish the UA for HOME-assisted rental units?
Date Published: August 2016
This guidance supersedes HOMEfires Vol. 9, No. 2.
Can a PJ receive credit for a HOME commitment that it made prior to its 24-month commitment deadline but did not set up in IDIS prior to its deadline?
Date Published: April 2016
This guidance was originally published in May 2015 and revised in July 2017.
Can the Office of Community Planning and Development (CPD) within a HUD Field Office allow a HOME participating jurisdiction (PJ) that is not listed on the published list of “Base City High Cost Percentages” to use the high-cost percentage of its HUD Multifamily Regional Office to determine the maximum per-unit subsidy limits for HOME?
Date Published: July 2017
Does the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 impact HOME-funded projects?
Date Published: December 2013
HUD has withdrawn this guidance.
Does the recently issued final rule on "Refinement of Income and Rent Determination Requirements in Public and Assisted Housing Programs" affect the way that PJs determine income-eligibility of HOME participants?
Date Published: February 2009
This guidance supersedes HOMEfires Vol. 9, No. 3.
What limits must PJs use as the maximum purchase price or after-rehabilitation value limits for their HOME-assisted homeownership housing, now that the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-185) has expired and the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-289) has established a new procedure for determining Section 203(b) mortgage limits?
Date Published: February 2009
Can PJs use the higher statutory exceptions to the maximum Section 221(d)(3) mortgage amounts, authorized by Section 221 of the General Provisions of Title II, Division K of the FY 2008 Appropriations Act, to determine their maximum HOME per-unit subsidy limits? HUD has issued a revised HOMEfires to provide more clarity on the procedures for establishing the maximum HOME per-unit subsidy limits.
Date Published: August 2008
This guidance is superceded by HOMEfires Vol. 10, No. 1.
Can PJs use the temporary Section 203(b) limits authorized by the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-185) as the maximum purchase price or after rehabilitation loan value limits for their HOME-assisted homeownership housing?
Date Published: March 2008
This guidance is superseded by HOMEfires Vol. 13, No. 1.
What constitutes acceptable documentation of commitments that a PJ made before the 24-month commitment deadline for projects or agreements not set up in IDIS?
Date Published: March 2008
How can PJs help existing homeowners who are having difficulty paying their private mortgages because of unfavorable financing terms?
Date Published: January 2008
HOMEfires Vol. 8, No. 1: Guidance on Using HOME Funds Outside of a PJ's Boundaries
Can a PJ use its HOME funds for projects outside its boundaries?
Date Published: October 2007
HOMEfires Vol. 7, No. 2: Guidance on Property Standards When HOME Funds Are Used for Rehabilitation
When HOME funds are used to rehabilitate a unit, must the entire unit meet the applicable property standards?
Date Published: October 2006
HOMEfires Vol. 7, No. 1: Guidance on PJ Affirmative Marketing Responsibilities
This guidance is superseded by HOMEfires Vol. 14, No. 1.
What are PJs responsibilities for developing, disseminating, and implementing affirmative marketing procedures?
Date Published: January 2006
HOMEfires Vol. 6, No. 2: Guidance on PJ Property Standards Inspection Responsibilities
What are the participating jurisdictions responsibilities for performing inspections of units purchased with HOME or ADDI assistance? Can PJs rely on inspections performed by third parties (such as consumer inspections) to determine compliance of HOME or ADDI units with applicable property standards?
Date Published: October 2005
What are the rules and expectations for entering HOME project completion information and beneficiary data into the Integrated Disbursement and Information System (IDIS)?
Date Published: August 2005
HOMEfires Vol. 5, No. 5: Guidance on Resale and Recapture Requirements in a HOME Written Agreement
Can a PJ include both resale and recapture requirements in a written agreement on the same HOME-assisted homebuyer unit and choose the option to be imposed at the time of resale?
Date Published: November 2003
Are the periods of affordability for homebuyer projects calculated in the same manner for projects under the resale and recapture provisions?
Date Published: October 2003
What is the impact of the regulations amending the calculation of annual income and adjusted income for disabled families and for families with members who are persons with disabilities on income and rent calculations for the HOME Program?
Date Published: July 2003
This HOMEfires is out of date and is being updated by HUD
Does the termination of the affordability restrictions on a HOME-assisted project due to foreclosure or transfer in lieu of foreclosure relieve the PJ of the requirement to repay the HOME investment in projects in which the affordability requirements are not met for the full affordability period?
Date Published: May 2003
Can nonprofit organizations removed from the FHA Nonprofit Organization Roster participate in the HOME Program?
Date Published: April 2003
What are a PJ's responsibilities for monitoring with respect to entities using its HOME funds?
Date Published: September 2002
HOMEfires Vol. 4, No. 3: Amenities that are Suitable to Include in HOME Assisted Projects
How should a Participating Jurisdiction (PJ) determine which amenities are suitable to include in HOME assisted projects?
Date Published: July 2002
HOMEfires Vol. 4, No. 2: Timing of Environmental Review Completion
Must the environmental review process be completed before any HOME funds are committed or actions undertaken? What steps must participating jurisdictions take when dealing with third-party partners?
Date Published: June 2002
HOMEfires Vol. 4, No. 1: Frequency of Recertification for CHDOs
How often must a PJ requalify a nonprofit organization as a Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO)?
Date Published: April 2002
For the purpose of determining the rent applicable to a HOME unit, are enhanced Section 8 vouchers, sometimes referred to as "sticky" vouchers, considered project-based rental assistance or tenant-based rental assistance?
Date Published: November 2001
HOMEfires Vol. 3, No. 9: Community Land Trusts (CLTs) and CHDO Certification
HUD has withdrawn this guidance.
Are Community Land Trusts (CLTs) automatically considered to be CHDOs?
Date Published: October 2001
HUD has withdrawn this guidance.
What changes have been made to the methodology for calculating Section 8 income limits? What impact will these changes have on the calculation of HOME income limits?
Date Published: June 2001
Can HOME funds be used in conjunction with the homeownership option of the Housing Choice Voucher Program?
Date Published: May 2001
HOMEfires Vol. 3, No. 6: HOME Match Obligations Deadline
Why must HOME PJs, which are permitted to determine the start date of the program year for their HOME and other CPD programs, meet their HOME match obligations based upon the Federal fiscal year (October 1-September 30)?
Date Published: May 2001
HOMEfires Vol. 3, No. 5: Twelve Month Construction Deadline and Six Month Transfer Deadlines
The definition of "commitment" in the HOME Final Rule states that, when a PJ commits funds to a specific project, there must be a reasonable expectation that construction will begin within twelve months for rehabilitation or, for acquisition only projects, be transferred within six months. Does this mean that projects that do not meet this requirement are ineligible and must be canceled?
Date Published: April 2001
HOMEfires Vol. 3, No. 4: Eligibility of Back Taxes, Fees or Charges as HOME Project Soft Cost
Are back taxes, fees or charges an eligible project soft cost for a project being acquired or rehabilitated with HOME funds?
Date Published: March 2001
HOMEfires Vol. 3, No. 3: Section 8
May Participating Jurisdictions use Section 8 "exception rent limits" as the basis for determining HOME program rents? What is the difference between "exception rent limits and HOME rent exceptions"?
Date Published: March 2001
The HOME Final Rule states that each Participating Jurisdiction must perform on-site inspections of HOME-assisted rental housing. How frequently should these inspections be performed? How should each PJ determine the number of units that must be inspected?
Date Published: February 2001
HOMEfires Vol. 3 No. 1: Purpose of HOME Written Rehabilitation Standards
What are written rehabilitation standards and what is their function in the HOME Program? How do they differ from property standards?
Date Published: January 2001
HOMEfires Vol. 2 No. 5: IDIS HOME Data Cleanup
I have heard a great deal about the IDIS HOME data cleanup effort. Why is this endeavor such a priority for HUD? What is quality data and how can I assist HUD in its effort to improve the reliability of HOME program information in IDIS?
Date Published: April 2000
HUD is updating this policy.
What are the HOME income, rent, per-unit subsidy and purchase price/after rehab value limits that apply to my community? Where can I find the latest limits?
Date Published: September 1999
HUD has withdrawn this guidance.
Are wards of the State and wards of the Court eligible beneficiaries of HOME-assisted transitional housing?
Date Published: May 1999
Occasionally members of PJ, State recipient and subrecipient staffs serve as board members of CHDOs and other nonprofit organizations that receive HOME funding for the provision of low-income housing. What are the HOME conflict of interest provisions that apply to persons serving on these boards?
Date Published: April 1999
HOMEfires Vol. 2, No. 1: Eligible CHDO Activities in the HOME program
HUD is updating this policy.
What are eligible CHDO activities in the HOME program?
Date Published: March 1999
How will the recently passed Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act of 1998 affect income eligibility requirements for participants in HOME-funded lease-purchase housing programs?
Date Published: December 1998
What are the HOME and other Federal requirements that apply to property receiving HOME downpayment assistance?
Date Published: August 1998
HOMEfires Vol. 1 No. 8: HOME and Individual Development Accounts
What is an Individual Development Account? Can HOME funds be used for them when buying a home is the goal?
Date Published: July 1998
HOMEfires Vol. 1 No. 7: Lead-Based Paint Requirements
This policy is superseded by the issuance of new Part 35 regulations.
What are the lead-based paint (LBP) requirements applicable to HOME-assisted projects?
Date Published: April 1998
How should I set up an activity and commit funds in IDIS under HOME to purchase, rehabilitate, and rent out homes at different locations? Is there a way to set up and fund this activity without knowing the addresses of the properties? Can one activity have more than one property address? Would the same process work for a first-time homebuyer program which provided HOME assistance at different locations?
Date Published: February 1998
HOMEfires Vol. 1 No. 5: Applicability of Section 504 Requirements to the HOME Program
What are the Section 504 requirements for handicapped accessibility to federally assisted housing activities and programs in general, and the HOME Program in specific?
Date Published: February 1998
HUD has withdrawn this guidance.
Can a PJ provide HOME assistance to a project that will serve only a certain special needs group (i.e., elderly, homeless, physically disabled, etc.)? How would the HOME affirmative marketing requirements apply to such a project?
Date Published: October 1997
This policy is superseded by changes made by the Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act of 1998.
May HOME funds be used to construct replacement units for demolished public housing which would be owned by a Public Housing Authority (PHA) and receive operating subsidies under an annual contributions contract?
Date Published: September 1997
The City of Hartford, Connecticut, in an effort to address its low homeownership rate and lack of affordable rental housing designed a HOME Program funded Homebuyer Downpayment Assistance Program for purchasers of 2-4 unit properties whose incomes may exceed low-income limits. Can HOME assistance to the purchasers under this downpayment assistance program be structured to avoid triggering the income requirement and affordability and resale/recapture restrictions contained in 92.254 of the HOME regulations for the owner-occupant?
Date Published: July 1997
HOMEfires Vol. 1 No. 1: Using HOME Funds for Housing Counseling
What are the constraints on using HOME funds for housing counseling?
Date Published: June 1997
HOMEfires Vol. 1, No. 1 - HOMEfires Vol. 3, No. 8: HOMEfires Archive
This large (6.5 Megabyte) PDF document begins with a topical listing of older HOMEfires issues, followed by the issues themselves.
Date Published: June 2001